7 U.S. Code § 1926a - Emergency and imminent community water assistance grant program

The Secretary shall provide grants in accordance with this section to assist the residents of rural areas and small communities to secure adequate quantities of safe water—

(1)after a significant decline in the quantity or quality of water available from the water supplies of such rural areas and small communities, or when such a decline is imminent; or

(2)when repairs, partial replacement, or significant maintenance efforts on established water systems would remedy—

(A)an acute, or imminent, shortage of quality water; or

(B)a significant decline, or imminent decline, in the quantity or quality of water that is available.

(b) Priority

In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall—

(1)give priority to projects described in subsection (a)(1) of this section; and

(2)provide at least 70 percent of all such grants to such projects.

(c) Eligibility

To be eligible to obtain a grant under this section, an applicant shall—

(1)be a public or private nonprofit entity; and

(2)in the case of a grant made under subsection (a)(1) of this section, demonstrate to the Secretary that the decline referred to in such subsection occurred, or will occur, within 2 years of the date the application was filed for such grant.

(C)to assist communities in complying with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.); and

(D)to provide potable water to communities through other means.

(2) Joint proposals

Nothing in this section shall preclude rural communities from submitting joint proposals for emergency water assistance, subject to the restrictions contained in subsection (e) of this section. Such restrictions should be considered in the aggregate, depending on the number of communities involved.

(e) Restrictions

(1) Maximum population and income

No grant provided under this section shall be used to assist any rural area or community that—

(A)includes any area in any city or town with a population in excess of 10,000 inhabitants according to the most recent decennial census of the United States; or

(B)has a median household income in excess of the State nonmetropolitan median household income according to the most recent decennial census of the United States.

(2) Set-aside for smaller communities

Not less than 50 percent of the funds allocated under this section shall be allocated to rural communities with populations that do not exceed 3,000 inhabitants.

(f) Maximum grants

Grants made under this section may not exceed—

(1)in the case of each grant made under subsection (a)(1) of this section, $500,000; and

(2)in the case of each grant made under subsection (a)(2) of this section, $150,000.

(g) Full funding

Subject to subsection (e) of this section, grants under this section shall be made in an amount equal to 100 percent of the costs of the projects conducted under this section.

(h) Application

(1) Nationally competitive application process

The Secretary shall develop a nationally competitive application process to award grants under this section. The process shall include criteria for evaluating applications, including population, median household income, and the severity of the decline, or imminent decline, in quantity or quality of water.

(2) Timing of review of applications

(A) Simplified application

The application process developed by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall include a simplified application form that will permit expedited consideration of an application for a grant filed under this section.

(B) Priority review

In processing applications for any water or waste grant or loan authorized under this chapter, the Secretary shall afford priority processing to an application for a grant under this section to the extent funds will be available for an award on the application at the conclusion of priority processing.

(C) Timing

The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, review and act on an application under this section within 60 days after the date on which the application is submitted to the Secretary.

(i) Funding

(1) Reservation

(A) In general

For each fiscal year, not less than 3 nor more than 5 percent of the total amount made available to carry out section
1926(a)(2) of this title for the fiscal year shall be reserved for grants under this section.

(B) Release

Funds reserved under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year shall be reserved only until July 1 of the fiscal year.

(2) Authorization of appropriations

In addition to funds made available under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2018.

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(C), is act June 30, 1948, ch. 758, as amended generally by Pub. L. 92–500, § 2,Oct. 18, 1972, 86 Stat. 816, which is classified generally to chapter 26 (§ 1251 et seq.) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
1251 of Title
33 and Tables.

The Safe Drinking Water Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(C), is title XIV of act July 1, 1944, as added Dec. 16, 1974, Pub. L. 93–523, § 2(a),
88 Stat. 1660, as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter XII (§ 300f et seq.) of chapter
6A of Title
42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
201 of Title
42 and Tables.

For definition of “this chapter”, referred to in subsec. (h)(2)(B), see note set out under section
1921 of this title.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 107–171, § 6009(4), added par. (1) and struck out heading and text of former par. (1). Text read as follows: “Grants made under this section may be used for waterline extensions from existing systems, laying of new waterlines, repairs, significant maintenance, digging of new wells, equipment replacement, hook and tap fees, and any other appropriate purpose associated with developing sources of, or treating, storing, or distributing water, and to assist communities in complying with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.).”

Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 107–171, § 6009(6)(B), added par. (2) and struck out heading and text of former par. (2). Text read as follows: “The Secretary shall make every effort to review and act on applications within 60 days of the date that such applications are submitted.”

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107–171, § 6009(7), added subsec. (i) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (i). Text read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002.”

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–127, § 742(2), added subsec. (i) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (i). Text read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $35,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1990 and 1991, such sums to remain authorized until fully appropriated.”

“(A) interim final regulations to carry out section 306A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act [7 U.S.C. 1926a] (as added by subsection (a) of this section) not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 14, 1989]; and

“(B) final regulations to carry out section 306A of such Act not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

“(2) Funds.—

“(A) Obligation.—The Secretary shall designate 70 percent of the funds made available for the first fiscal year for which appropriations are made under section 306A(i) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act not later than 5 months after the date such funds are appropriated.

“(B) Release.—The Secretary may release funds prior to the issuance of final regulations under paragraph (1)(B) for grants under section 306A(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.”

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